Baby Sunscreen (2026): Under 6 Months vs Over, per FDA and AAP

Sun protection for a baby or toddler splits at 6 months. What to use before and after that age comes first, then seven mineral sunscreens compared by the active ingredient on their drug labels, three sun hats and a rash guard.

The guidance is quoted from the FDA's consumer update Should You Put Sunscreen on Infants? Not Usually, the FDA's page Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun, and the AAP's Sun Safety: Information for Parents About Sunburn & Sunscreen (last updated August 2024).

What the FDA and AAP say, by age

The FDA explains why young babies are different: "infants are at greater risk than adults of sunscreen side effects, such as a rash," and "younger babies don't sweat like adults do," so "they can become easily overheated." It says to "check with your pediatrician before applying sunscreen to children younger than 6 months."

Every sunscreen label here carries the same line, as FDA rules require: "children under 6 months of age: Ask a doctor."

The seven sunscreens and their active ingredients

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

How we chose: active ingredients come from each product's drug label on the National Library of Medicine's DailyMed database (it lists two Thinkbaby label versions, at 20% and a newer 23.4% zinc oxide), and every pick is sold by Amazon.com or the brand's store. We have not tested these sunscreens.

Under 6 months: shade, clothing and a hat

The AAP says: "Find shade under a tree, an umbrella, or the stroller canopy." The FDA says "the best sun protection for these infants is to stay in the shade."

Clothing does the job sunscreen will do later. The FDA recommends long pants and long-sleeve shirts, says "tight weaves are better than loose ones," and adds: "Babies should wear a hat with a brim that shades the neck."

• i play. Baby Flap Sun Protection Swim Hat, 0–6 months: a flap hat that covers the neck, with a chin tie. The listing gives no UPF number.
• Gerber UPF 50+ Long Sleeve Rash Guard: sleeves to the wrists, sized from 0–3 months.

Heat matters as much as sunburn at this age. The FDA says to "Give your child formula or breast milk if you're out in the sun for more than a few minutes." A stroller canopy is shade; a blanket draped over the whole stroller is not a canopy, and our stroller accessories guide explains why we left blackout stroller covers out.

If there's no shade at all and your pediatrician agrees, a mineral stick such as the Blue Lizard Baby Stick lets you cover just the face, the small area the AAP describes.

From 6 months: a mineral sunscreen

The AAP's rule is "a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 (up to SPF 50)." For "sensitive areas of the body, such as the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and shoulders," it says to "choose a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide." Those are the two mineral active ingredients, and every sunscreen here uses one or both.

• Blue Lizard Baby Lotion: the only lotion here with both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
• Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection: 21.6% zinc oxide and the National Eczema Association Seal, per its listing. It contains oat.
• Thinkbaby: zinc oxide alone, sold by the brand's own store.
• Baby Bum: a 3 oz travel tube, with coconut oil and cocoa butter.
• Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby: fragrance-free, 20% zinc oxide.
• Blue Lizard Baby Stick and Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Stick: for faces and ears.

What we'd buy: one lotion for arms and legs and one stick for the face.

Applying and reapplying

The AAP says to "Put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors," to "Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas," and to "Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating or drying off with a towel."

"Water resistant" is a regulated label. The FDA says these products must "state on their labels whether the sunscreen remains effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes when swimming or sweating." Every sunscreen here lists 80 minutes. The FDA also says: "There's no such thing as 'waterproof' sunscreen," and "All sunscreens eventually wash off."

Key point: 80 minutes is the longest claim the FDA allows. After a swim or a towel-off, reapply whatever the clock says.

Hats, a rash guard and sunglasses

A hat and clothing protect without reapplying. The AAP suggests "a hat with an all-around 3-inch brim to shield the face, ears, and back of the neck."

• i play. Baby Brim Hat, 9–18 months: UPF 50+, a wide brim and an adjustable toggle.
• JAN & JUL Grow-with-Me Wide Brim UPF Hat, 6–24 months: UPF 50+ with a full neck flap, a drawstring to size up, and a chin strap with a breakaway clip.
• Gerber UPF 50+ Rash Guard: covers arms, shoulders and back at the pool.

The AAP also recommends sunglasses "with at least 99% UV protection" for children, and says to "Limit your sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m." The FDA's page on infants uses a narrower window, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If your baby gets sunburned

If your baby "is younger than 1 year old and gets sunburn," the AAP says to call their doctor right away. For older children, it says: "call your child's doctor if there is blistering, pain or fever."

Pack a thermometer with the sunscreen; see our baby thermometer guide. Our babyproofing checklist by age covers the rest of summer safety at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SPF 50+ better than SPF 30 for a baby?

Not proven. The AAP's sun safety page says "An SPF of 15 or 30 should be fine for most people," and that more research is needed to test whether anything above SPF 50 adds protection.

Should I avoid oxybenzone?

If you can. The AAP says to avoid it "because of concerns about mild hormonal properties," but adds that "using any sunscreen is better than not using sunscreen at all."

Does my baby need sunscreen on a cloudy day?

Yes, from 6 months. The AAP says you can burn on cloudy days "because up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through the clouds," and that UV bounces back from water, sand, snow and concrete.

What if my baby rubs sunscreen into their eyes?

Wipe their eyes and hands clean with a damp cloth, the AAP says. If a sunscreen irritates the skin, try a different one with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and talk to the doctor about any rash.

This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. Ask your pediatrician before using sunscreen on a baby under 6 months, and call right away if a baby under 1 gets sunburned.